AN urgent bid is being made to install a lift at school to help a plucky teenager pass his exams.

Fifteen-year-old Steven Green, of Fellwood Avenue, suffers from a rare genetic condition called achondraplasia which severely restricts his growth.

In the New Year Steven is to undergo his fourth 'leg-lengthening' operation at Sheffield childrens' hospital to hopefully add another three inches to his current height of four foot.

After the operation, during which his legs will be broken and subsequently stretched as they heal, Steven will be in a wheelchair for up to a year.

His mother Anne says his life at Oakbank School will be made very difficult because of the lack of disabled facilities.

She says: "We've been told that Oakbank can't afford to install the lift required to make the school accessible to all children with disabilities.

"Instead of putting all their efforts into sports college status Oakbank should consider putting some effort into providing an education for all children, even those with special needs."

Mrs Green says the school was told about Steven's operation early last year but the final decision was not taken until last month.

"It's very disappointing the school has let us down so near to Steven's operation date," she says. "Without the lift the school can't provide him with the full curriculum, and it's his last 15 months education prior to his GCSEs. This could not have come at a worse time for him."

Schools are exempt from the Disabilities Discrimination Act which demands that all public buildings are made accessible for disabled people.

A spokesman from the Disabilities Rights Commission says: "It's one of major flaws with the Disabilities Discrimination Act, and it's one of the things that people have been campaigning about for many years."

She adds that newly announced legislation should rectify the situation, but says the bill is not due to come into force until next summer.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer says she is keen to help get funding from the local authority.

She says: "It's an unusual case because usually the children are long term disabled and so they are already in a school which can deal with their needs.

"It's a question of persuading the school or maybe the local authority to put a lift in for him."

Oakbank head teacher John Roberts says following an unsuccessful bid last January, the next opportunity to apply for funding is next month.

He adds: "We've already been talking to the council's special needs advisor and we've got rough prices for the work. Installing a lift would cost around £25,000, plus extra for the necessary building work, and we would want to build a hygiene room for a toilet, a shower, a hoist and a changing bench at a cost of around £5,000."

He says bids are normally decided in April, but the school is trying to get the money sooner because of Steven's imminent return to school.

A spokesman from Bradford council says they are in contact with the Department of Education and Employment and are exploring a number of possibilities to determine the best way forward. He says: "We hope to reach a conclusion as soon as possible."